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Parathyroid Disease Basics

Learn about parathyroid disease, what causes it, how is it diagnosed and how is it treated. Questions tagged here are a great starting place to understand the disease and surgery.

What is Parathyroid Disease?

Parathyroid disease refers to problems with the parathyroid glands. Almost everyone has four parathyroid glands, located in the neck near the thyroid. These glands exist to regulate blood calcium levels, so parathyroid disease is fundamentally a problem of calcium. The calcium in your blood is kept in a very tight range - your body doesn't want it too low or too high. The parathyroids are what ...

Diagnosis Primary HPT Popular Secondary HPT Parathyroid Disease Basics FAQ

I have a calcium of 11.1 mg/dl (age 55, female). We still need to order other labs. I have so many symptoms consistent with hyperparathyroidism. A lot of the reading I’ve done seems to say that they don’t do surgery under 12 as it “should” be asymptomatic. Can an 11 level cause symptoms?

Yes! A calcium of 11.1 mg/dl can definitely cause symptoms! I have had patients whose calcium levels never went above 10.5 mg/dl and they were absolutely miserable. The symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism are unrelated to how high the calcium is. Any calcium above normal (above 10.0 mg/dl for a person over about age 40) can cause symptoms. Parathyroid disease is only rarely asymptomatic...

Parathyroid Disease Basics Symptoms Primary HPT Diagnosis

I'm a 36 year old woman, and my calcium levels have been trending up for the last 4 years and my health has been in a rapid decline. I now have osteopenia. The fatigue and brain fog is so bad most days I can barely concentrate or function. My recent calcium was 10.5 mg/dl and I haven't had my PTH checked recently but last time it wasn't elevated. I am waiting for new lab orders. Before the increasing calcium the last few years I lived in the low 9s and that is where it seemed to stay (9.2-9.4 mg/dl) and looking at the trend it is now consistently high 9s with the highest being 10.5. I am terrified my health is going to keep declining. Do you do consults for people in my position?

Thank you for sharing your information. Your picture is definitely concerning for [primary hyperparathyroidism](https://https://www.southwestparathyroid.com/disease). A calcium of 10.5 mg/dl is a little high for your age. Sometimes people in their 30s can have calcium levels in the low 10s, which then drop into the 9s as you get above about 40 years old. But 10.5 is a little higher than what I ...

Parathyroid Disease Basics Symptoms Diagnosis Primary HPT

Hi! Is there any food you have to avoid if you have high calcium and high parathyroid levels?

Thanks for asking! Patients are often told to avoid high-calcium foods like dairy products when they are diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. But in most cases, this isn't really necessary (unless you are eating absolutely insane amounts of dairy, which is not good for you anyway!). If you have primary hyperparathyroidism, your calcium is high because you have an overactive parathyro...

Hypercalcemia Parathyroid Disease Basics Primary HPT Vitamin D

I had a recent CT scan of parathyroid that was reported normal. I was put on low calcium diet for next 2 months then repeat tests. Can CTs be false negative & can diet change results and help confirm need for surgery or is it a waste of time? Seems surgery is needed now? Thank you from Ontario, Canada. Calcium is 2.83 mmol/L (11.3 mg/dl) and PTH 14.2 pmol/L (134 pg/ml). I am 68 years old.

First, these labs very clearly indicate primary hyperparathyroidism, since the calcium and PTH are both far outside normal range. We don't need anything else to make the diagnosis. A low calcium diet is not going to change this diagnosis. Your calcium and PTH levels may both fluctuate to some extent, since that happens with primary hyperparathyroidism, but the diagnosis will not change. ...

Diagnosis Hypercalcemia Primary HPT Parathyroid Disease Basics Imaging

I have both high pth (140) and high calcium (10.4). A Scan of my parathyroid glands showed normal. What should I do to lower these?

Thanks for writing. Your scenario is fairly common. Your labs are classic for primary hyperparathyroidism (high calcium and high PTH), but your parathyroid scans are negative (no parathyroid tumors seen). So what should you do to lower the calcium and PTH? **Short answer: A parathyroid operation.** Long answer: Parathyroid surgery is the only way to cure primary hyperparathyroidism. ...

primary hyperparathyroidism Diagnosis Treatment Parathyroid Disease Basics Imaging

Do I need to take Vitamin D? My latest calcium was 10.7 mg/dl and PTH 60 pg/ml. My doctor is very concerned about my Vitamin D of 15 ng/ml, and says that I should get my Vitamin D level up with supplementation before undergoing parathyroid surgery. Someone else said I should not take Vitamin D. Should I take it? (I am 50 years old.)

This question comes up a lot with parathyroid patients! Most patients with primary hyperparathyroidism will have low or low-normal Vitamin D levels. And many of them are told to take Vitamin D supplements. I do not recommend doing this, and I'll explain why. Your labs indicate primary hyperparathyroidism because your calcium is elevated and the PTH is inappropriate for that calcium. When yo...

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